One Mysterious And Suspicious Death Too Many

Even when the regular mischievous people come on air and try to push my red, green or orange buttons, me, Sandra Ijeoma Okoye, will remain unruffled. However, with the recent death of Chidiebere Iloka, in a mysterious and suspicious circumstance, and who was reported to have slumped and died on Sunday morning, after serving her husband breakfast, the bitter taste of swallowed tears and the lump inside my throat fought against the words and I choked like a politician speaking the truth. It was a graphic tale, and just one too many.

Without any scintilla of hyperbole, there have been incidences of mysterious deaths across the length and breadth of the country in such a manner that fits the description of a whirlwind. For instance, towards the end of last month, July 2022, the Bayelsa Police Command paraded a murder suspect, Joseph Fekala, 27, who reportedly strangled 25-year-old Kate Ogwoh and buried her in a shallow grave at his apartment at Okaka, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

Police spokesperson SP Asinim Butswat, who briefed reporters during the parade at the Command’s headquarters in Yenagoa, said, according to an investigation, the murder is linked to a certain amount of money the victim owed the deceased.

In a similar vein, Edo Police Command, last month, arrested the husband of 27-year-old Cynthia Agho, who allegedly committed suicide in Benin City, the Edo State capital. As gathered, the woman was found dangling on a rope twisted around her neck, and tied to the ceiling fan in her bedroom. It was further gathered that the incident happened in the Lucky Way area of Aduwawa, Benin City.

Her husband, Emmanuel Omoru, was arrested following rumour that he may have killed the wife but faked it as suicide.

A spokesperson for the Command, Chidi Nwanbuzor, who confirmed the incident, said, it happened at no 10, Omozese Street, off street 2, off Lucky way, Aduwawaarea of Benin City.

He said: “It is a case of suspected suicide, on July 7, the control room of Aduwawa police station received a distress call that a certain woman committed suicide by hanging at No 10, Omozese Street, off street 2, off Lucky Way, Aduwawa Benin City.

“When the police visited the crime scene, they met a certain woman, who was later identified by her husband, one Emmanual Omoru as Mrs Cynthia Agho, 27, dangling in a rope tied to the ceiling fan inside her bedroom.

“A stool was found under the ceiling fan, the corpse was photographed, lowered down and evacuated to the police’s hospital morgue for autopsy. No written note was found at the scene.”

“Preliminary investigation has commenced identifying or find out whether it is a case of suspected suicide or murder.

“Rumour is flying that it is a case of suspected murder and that is why the investigation has commenced unravellingthe truth.

“The husband of the woman is in custody undergoing investigation at Aduwawa police station and would be transferred to the command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) for a thorough investigation.”

As regards the mysterious and suspicious death of Chidiebere Iloka, the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has suspended the husband of the deceased, Hon. Mbazulike Iloka, who is also the transition committee chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area. As gathered, Iloka, who is popularly known as MbaMba, was suspended over the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death last Sunday morning.

The suspension of Iloka may not be unconnected with the strong suspicion that stemmed from the circumstances surrounding the death of Chidiebere, particularly as those who know the couple insisted that Iloka may have killed his wife, as he has a record of consistently battering her, and the suspicion becomes stronger as signs of violence was also found on her body, while a huge wound on her head aroused suspicion, leading to public outcry over her death.

In a letter of suspension, which was signed by Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affair, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, the chairman was asked to hand over to the head of Local Government administration, to avoid interfering in investigation.

The letter read: “Following the sad news of the death of your wife, late Mrs Chidiebere Iloka on 7th August 2022, there have been a massive outcry over the circumstances leading to her death, including alleged possible homicide.

“While you are presumed innocent until the completion of investigations, it has become imperative that you step aside to allow unfettered investigation and justice.

“Consequently, you are directed to step aside and to hand over the affairs of the local government to the head of local government administration, not later that 12th August 2022, until further notice.”

Iloka has only recently been appointed chairman of the local government. He has only been in office for about a week before his eventual removal.

Be that as it may, to my view, I am through this medium calling on the relevant authorities in Anambra State to ensure that they bring the perpetrator (s) of this murder to book and give justice to her. I believe Soludo should go beyond suspending the bereaved husband of Chidiebere, and take the investigation beyond that level as the Bible in Ecclesiastes chapter 8 verse 11 says, “When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil”.

Sandra Ijeoma Okoye (Author)